Preventing Childhood Obesity
Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past two decades. Calorie-dense, fatty and salty foods, combined with beverages loaded with sugar and downed in an instant make for a dangerous combination for our children. Add to that a serious lack of physical activity and you’re looking at an alarming statistic: 25% of kids under 10 years of age have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or some other contributor to heart disease.
A new report has issued a stark warning that children's lives will
be shorter than their parent's if this trend continues. While extreme calorie reduction is not
advisable for children, a balanced diet of whole foods and reduced dietary fat is recommended.
One of the biggest challenges is finding a way to make what's nutritious taste delicious to satisfy kids' cravings for sweets. Vitamix machines make all-natural fruit smoothies and frozen treats with real kid appeal. Plus, it’s fun for parents and kids to watch Vitamix machines in action, creating healthy favorites according to their individual tastes. It’s an easy, accessible way to stay fit and to fit the lifestyle of today's busy family.
Get ready to start making great-tasting, good-for-you meals with the help of Vitamix!
Get started today.
The truth about childhood obesity
Schools are slashing sports programs, restaurants are super-sizing portions and kids are
trading ball games for video games and the internet. No wonder approximately 30% of U.S. children are obese or overweight!
Today our country's collective weight problem is linked to 300,000 deaths each year. The truth is, it's not a pretty picture. Small changes can make a big difference. One smart and convenient solution is to substitute a few of the high calorie convenience foods your family now eats with healthy whole food recipes made in the Vitamix machine.
Make your kids fresh fruit smoothies and frozen treats and they'll never miss the high-fat, high-calorie desserts they think they can't live without. The best part is, it's not a diet... it's delicious.
Sneaky Snacks
Marketers are spending billions of dollars on strategies to attract and keep lifelong customers--by targeting today's youth. Many new snack food products are being packaged just for kids. They're bright, colorful and "fun" to eat, and they come in trendy shapes that match movie and TV themes.
Packaged, processed foods may have a few vitamins and minerals added to them, but what you're actually getting is a small percentage of what you really need. Fresh, whole foods, direct from Mother Nature, are the only way to get complete vitamin-rich, flavor-filled nutrition a kid really needs. Vitamix fresh fruit smoothies are sweet, flavorful, delicious and nutritious. Vitamix peanut butter is fun to make, too, and makes a great after-school snack that's really healthy. There are honest options to high-fat, high-sodium snacks. Let Vitamix show you the way.
Discover Vitamix Green Smoothies
5 Simple Steps :
Keep your kids happy and healthy
If your child is one of the 30% who are either overweight or at risk, here are some tips to take seriously:
1. Face the facts.
If your kid is gaining weight for two years, it's not baby fat. Talk to the family doctor for a weight
loss plan and healthy eating advice.
2. Get the whole family involved.
Everyone should eat healthier, so get everyone interested in healthy meals that taste good.
3. Eat as a family--at the dinner table.
That way you can watch what everyone eats and guide the kids into eating well-balanced meals. Even snacks should be structure "sit down" events. Food eaten on the run is fast forgotten.
4. Make it fun.
Nutrition can be fun--especially with the Vitamix machine. Kids can make their own low-fat ice cream treats and healthy, delicious smoothies and yummy soups. Peanut butter, too.
5. Unplug!
Get up, move away from the TV and the computer and head toward healthy activities like biking, walking, ping pong, bowling--vary the plan and be creative. It's a great way to get to know your kids better, too.
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Michelle Obama Launches "Let's Move" Campaign to Reverse Childhood Obesity.
First Lady Michele Obama has unveiled a comprehensive plan to solve childhood obesity in a generation--to effectively reduce the rate of childhood obesity down to 5% by 2030. Government statistics show that approximately 30% of children and adolescents today are considered obese or overweight.
The plan recommendations are detailed and extensive. Some highlights include: cooperation from restaurants when it comes to portion size and quality of children’s menus, increased promotion of healthy foods from the food and beverage industry, and economic incentives to increase production of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Bringing this program to life and to the public is the "Let's Move" campaign – a nationwide initiative that focuses on four key areas:
- Improving information for parents so they can make informed decisions and healthy changes
- Improving the quality of food in our nation's schools
- Improving access and affordability of healthy foods
- Increase physical education for our kids
"'Let's Move' is going to take families out of their isolation and give them the nationwide support that they need in a whole range of industries to get their kids on track to live healthier lives," said Mrs. Obama in a video clip that can be seen on the Web site, letsmove.gov.
A quick look at some eye-opening statistics:
Overweight children are at high risk for developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes
Overweight children are more susceptible to stress, sadness and low self-esteem
The national cost of childhood obesity is estimated at approximately $11 billion for children with private insurance and $3 billion for those with Medicaid
25% of the vegetables eaten in the US are French fries
A 1957 restaurant hamburger had 210 calories--today that burger is bigger--618 calories
In 1969, 80% of kids played sports every day. That number is now down to 20%
By age 17, the average child has spent more time watching TV than attending school
70% of kids age six to eight think fast food is better for them than home cooking
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